Defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain has given Florida State fans a great deal to be excited about since taking over the position group at the beginning of 2023. Not only has it remained one of the strongest position groups on the team, but it is also a position that Florida State has recruited incredibly well over the past few years.
Even during a down year, Florida State still managed to have a slightly above average pass defense in 2024 as the No. 41 ranked passing defense in the country, giving up just over 200 passing yards a game.
The Seminoles have a good nucleus of veteran players returning, but the true potential of the defensive backfield this upcoming season will rely on what they can get from the younger members of its roster. Switching to a 3-3-5 defensive scheme under Tony White provides a learning curve across the entire defense, but greater stress is placed on the safeties — who were the weaker portion of the secondary last season.
Enter safeties coach Evan Cooper, who came over to Tallahassee with White from Nebraska. Having worked in South Florida previously, not only is Cooper a younger and relatable person on the recruiting trail, but he has aided the transition into a defense that is reliant on good safety play.
Can the Seminoles have a rebound year from their safeties? And who steps up among the cornerbacks to replace the production of second-round draft pick Azareye’h Thomas and undrafted free agent (Commanders) Fentrell Cypress?
The Osceola’s position preview series concludes with a look at the defensive backs.
Pre-Camp Depth Chart:
Cornerback
Senior Jeremiah Wilson (5-foot-10 and 183 pounds)
Junior Quindarrius Jones (6-foot-2 and 192 pounds)
Redshirt Sophomore Ja’Bril Rawls (6-foot-1 and 185 pounds)
Redshirt Sophomore Edwin Joseph (6-foot and 198 pounds)
Redshirt Freshman Charles Lester III (6-foot-1 and 193 pounds)
Redshirt Freshman Ricky Knight III (6-foot and 177 pounds)
Redshirt Freshman Cai Bates (6-foot-2 and 196 pounds)
Redshirt Freshman Jamari Howard (6-foot-2 and 197 pounds)
True freshman Shamar Arnoux (6-foot-2 and 192 pounds)
Safety
Redshirt Senior Shyheim Brown (6-foot-2 and 205 pounds)
Redshirt Junior Earl Little Jr. (6-foot-1 and 193 pounds)
Junior Conrad Hussey (6-foot and 197 pounds)
Redshirt Junior Ashlynd Barker (6-foot-3 and 216 pounds)
Redshirt Sophomore K.J. Kirkland (6-foot-1 and 212 pounds)
Redshirt Freshman Jarvis Boatwright Jr. (6-foot-1 and 198 pounds)
True Freshman Zae Thomas (6-foot-3 and 189 pounds)
True Freshman Max Redmon (6-foot-1 and 196 pounds)
Florida State’s 2024 Defensive Back Stats:
Shyheim Brown - 70 tackles (led the team), two pass breakups, two blocked kicks.
Azareye’h Thomas - 52 tackles, one interception, four pass breakups.
K.J. Kirkland - 46 tackles, two pass breakups.
Kevin Knowles II - 32 tackles, four pass breakups.
Fentrell Cypress II - 27 tackles, five pass breakups (team high).
Ashlynd Barker - 19 tackles, one interception.
Conrad Hussey - 18 tackles.
Earl Little Jr. - 15 tackles.
Jabril Rawls - 14 tackles.
Edwin Joseph - 13 tackles, one interception, two pass breakups.
Quindarrius Jones - 12 tackles, three pass breakups.
Charles Lester III - 3 tackles, one pass breakup.
Omarion Cooper - 1 tackle.
Departures and Arrivals:
Departures:
Azareye’h Thomas (NFL)
Fentrell Cypress (ran out of eligibility)
Arrivals:
Jeremiah Wilson (Houston) transferred during spring window.
Jarvis Boatwright Jr. (USC) transferred during spring window.
Max Redmon (Cardinal Newman) signed in December.
Zae Thomas (American Heritage Plantation) signed in December, arrived in summer.
Shamar Arnoux (Carrollton High School) signed in December.
Antonio Cromartie Jr. (Carrollton High School) signed in December.
On The Rise:
With the defensive backfield being shook up frequently last season in the search for some juice on the field, Florida State did give multiple young players some early playing time. That has set the foundation for a summer and fall camp where multiple second or third year players will have the opportunity to seriously factor into the two-deep.
K.J. Kirkland is one who perhaps made the most of that opportunity, growing into a role that saw him net the fifth-most tackles on the team as a redshirt freshman. Likewise, Earl Little Jr. struggled at nickel at the beginning of the season but began to find his stride at safety towards the end of the year. He is expected to be a serious contributor at safety beside Shyheim Brown.
At cornerback, Ja’Bril Rawls had one of the best spring camps of anyone on the team and the coaching staff raved about him both publicly and in private. Edwin Joseph became a fan favorite last season based on effort alone, though an injury kept him out for the majority of spring camp. Quindarrius Jones had stretches of great play mixed in with some tough learning moments.
The defensive back room is as wide open as any position group on the team and there should be healthy competition during fall camp.
Biggest Questions:
As youthful and exciting as the defensive back room is, Florida State needs some guys to take the next step. And that step doesn’t necessarily need to be on the field either. During the spring, we were told that the new defensive staff were evaluating the underclassmen for improvement both on and off the field. One guy that passed with flying colors was the aforementioned Rawls, who may have had the lights come on this spring. But apart from Rawls, the results were a big reason why Florida State ultimately decided to go into the portal for a surefire starter at corner in Jeremiah Wilson despite not being thought of as a primary need.
Let’s call it as it is, this offseason has been about improved maturity just as much as it has been about improved skillsets. Just how much that has improved, is the biggest question.
Can Shyheim Brown be the leader this secondary needs? Brown may have been the leading tackler last season but funnily enough it often looked like it was the last thing he wanted to be doing.
Can Earl Little Jr. continue to build on a strong offseason at safety? This defense is taxing on the safeties and needs a reliability at the backend.
Who lines up on the other hash across from Jeremiah Wilson? Quindarrius Jones and Edwin Joseph have both given you reasons to strongly consider them.
Who further steps up from the core of young players? Where does Jamari Howard stand after losing a full-year to injury? Will Cai Bates or Charles Lester III crack the two-deep in their second year?
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